Winter Bike Riding – The Safe WayWinter Bike Riding –The Safe Wayby: Kay ZetkinAre you one of those motorcycle riders that live innorthern climates where winters can be harsh and still choose to continueriding when the bitter winter sets in? Well, everybody would say you’re dreadful toeven consider riding out in the snow. Contemporaries who are more protective of their bikes might evensay that you’re a brutal slave-driver of your beloved bike.Winter is really a terrible season for motorcycle enthusiasts. Determined as you are to go on riding,surviving the harsh winters should be kept in mind to prevent any inevitable dangerthat would cause trauma for you and your beloved motorcycle. Remember that winter riding is not the time to boast of agreat stamina and show off your toughness just by wearing extra clothing and driving roughshod over yourbike like it’s any hot summer day. Precautions must always be taken if you plan to goout riding during winter. So how do you go about preparing your motorcycle and yourself?For your motorcycle:You need to get a windshield. Don’t ever think that twenty degree temperatures with severe wind chillfactors are enjoyable enough for you to neglect having a windshield.Make sure your motorcycle battery could stand the strain of chilly blasts. Keep it charged and you can tryto use Battery Tender for this.Using the proper oil for your motorcycle is also top priority. The 10w – 40w oil is sufficient enough.For those with liquid-cooled bikes, make sure that the reading on the anti-freeze is sufficient for thetemperatures you’ll be expecting.Make sure your bike has been thoroughly inspected for any mechanical problems before starting yourride. For yourself:Be patient of the use of your protective gears that would restrict your overall movement while riding. Likewearing full-faced helmets and heavy clothing that would prevent free andeasy movement.Keep yourself posted over weather forecasts and road condition reports over the route you’ll be taking. It is a good measureespecially for those who will ride a long way from home.Cover up your body and eliminate all the places where the cold air can easily enter. Some winter riders wear heavy clothing anduse duct tape to seal up openings. But modern fabrics designed toseal out the cold and retain body heat can be more preferable. There’s winter clothing made specifically for motorcyclists. Youcan even use ski pants.Electric vests and electric gloves can also be preferable. These electric gadgets are interconnected with wires that also connectto a thermostat that can be kept in your pocket. One end of the thermostat goes to a dedicated connector that leads to thebattery. You’ll find yourself fleecy warm in these gadgets to ithas a bulkiness to it.Your winter riding can be a great adventure. Just make sure thatwhile you’re having fun, you and your motorcycle are also safeand sound. -30-Kay Zetkin discovered the pleasure of writing through her daily journals as a teen-ager. Writing in it helped sort out herthoughts, relieve her feelings and record what she observes ofthe world.For her, writing is an effective tool to express yourviewpoints… To write is already to choose, thus, writing shouldbe done along with a critical mind and a caring soul. She hopesto become more professional, skilled and mature in her craft.Aside from writing Kay spends her time reading. Reading lets her travel to far-off imagined places and situations. She also learnsa lot from devouring books, especially from the socio-politicaland historical ones.For comments and inquiries about the article visithttp://www.aftermarketmotorcyclepartsnow.comIf you liked what Steel Horse News has to say pass it on Clickhere to email this to a friend.Amazon.com WidgetsCopyright© Steel Horse MotorcycleNews. May 15, 2012.